Hyperbolic paraboloid roof and sidewall system

Abstract

A hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure which has in combination rectilinear panels (10) tangentially attached to a frame of beams (11) each of whose top surfaces (11a) is a semicircular arc or segment thereof. The panels are assembled from prefabricated rectilinear subpanels (13).

I claim: 
     
       1. A hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure comprising a plurality of identical rectilinear hyperbolic paraboloid roof panels (10); each said panel (10) comprising at least three prefabricated rectilinear subpanels (15, 16, 17) arranged to interlock along abutting edges by overlapping tongue (15a, 16b) and groove (15b, 16a) means and locked together by top and bottom cover means (8); said sub-panels including a bottom (15), a middle (16), and a top (17) section of the hyperbolic paraboloidal roof panel (10); said panels being mounted on a frame made of a plurality of beams (11) having identical cross-sections and having top surfaces (11a) which are semi-circular arcs; the ends of the subpanels (15, 16, 17) of each panel (10) being attached tangentially by mechanical fixture means (10a) to said top surfaces (11a) of said beams (11). 
     
     
       2. The roof structure of claim 1 wherein said beams (11) have joining extensions permitting joining of adjacent beams (12) in a selected configuration. 
     
     
       3. The roof structure of claim 2 wherein said extensions are made of non-metallic material.